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Improved honey processing for improved
income
 “We
are highly dependent on the forest. We
hang beehives, send the cattle to
shelter, collect construction materials
and produce spices. We want to preserve
and rehabilitate the forest. We need to
increase its productivity” says Ato
Geremew Gawo.
Geremew Gawo is a farmer in South West
Ethiopia at Wanabola woreda. He is a
Trainer in transitional beehives
construction. He is responsible to train
five farmers. He was trained by Wanabola
woreda Development Agents (DA).
Strengthening Sustainable Livelihoods
and Forest Management (SSLFM) began
implementation since September. The
Business Development Advisor Luwiza
Wolde Gebriel said the Regional Advisory
Support Unit (RASU) has learnt that the
honey production process needs capacity
building. If they get the necessary
technical support, the farmers could
increase the volume and quality of the
honey and improve their income.
Geremew says the Development Agents in
Wanabola woreda are of great help to
him. They trained him in modern beehives
construction, fruit trees planting and
processing of some forest products for
market. He added “If the FARM Africa/SOS
Sahel Ethiopia Programme supports the
DAs’ effort, our knowledge will be
wider”.
Geremew Gawo has seven transitional and
five traditional beehives. Last year he
produced 240 Kg of honey. “I sold the
honey for 30 birr per kilo.
From the income, I renovated my house.”
In addition to the honey production, the
family is engaged in coffee and cardamom
production. To diversify the family’s
livelihoods options, Geremew plants
fruit trees like avocado and banana,
cereals like maize and false banana.
 He
is a father of seven. He is also
responsible to take care of his parents.
His wife Ayelech Ambo is his right hand
person. She tends the backyard beehives
and garden.
Reason for joining forest users group
The community has several reasons for
joining the Wanabola forest users group.
In Wanabola woreda there is agricultural
investment. “We are not allowed to enter
into the investors’ property and use
forest products. We can not hang
beehives, collect wild coffee etc. If we
own forest user right, we will develop
the forest and use the various forest
products without
threatening
the forest’s
existence” says Geremew.
There is free access to the forest. The
woreda people are afraid the forest will
be destroyed and they will be victims of
deforestation. “We follow the media. We
are experiencing the effects of climate
change. This year we have a long dry
season” says Geremew. He added “usually,
in March, we used to have rain. This
time the cattle have no grass due to the
delay of the rain. We do not want the
water springs to dry. The forest is the
source of water.”
On going action
According to the Social Development
Advisor of the SSNPR Regional Advisory
Support Unit, Solomon Hailu, the SSLFM
proramme will help the Wanabola forest
community to establish Forest Management
Group. The group members will be trained
on processing of NTFPs like honey and
get linked to the market.
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